we can help you fight for the justice you deserve

Five of the Most Common Auto Accidents

There are many different types of car accidents that occur on our nation's roadways. Learning more about these accidents helps you know what you can do to reduce your risk of being involved in them. Below, our Sacramento car accident attorneys review five of the most common types of car accidents and offer tips on ways to help prevent these crashes from occurring.

Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee you will not be involved in a vehicle accident and possibly suffer a personal injury. If a collision occurs, it may be because of another driver's negligence, which may entitle you to compensation.

Our attorneys can review your situation in a free consultation to determine if you have a case. If you do, we are prepared to pursue the compensation you deserve.

1. Side-Impact Collisions

Side-impact collisions occur when one vehicle crashes into the side of another. Side-impact collisions accounted for 27 percent of all vehicle passenger deaths in the nation in 2009, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. These collisions are particularly dangerous, because there is less space on the side of a vehicle to absorb the impact of the crash and help shield passengers.

A common type of side-impact collision is a T-bone crash: One vehicle perpendicularly impacts the side of another vehicle. This typically occurs when a car runs a stop light, then crashes into a car traveling through the intersection on a green light.

Avoid side-impact collisions by always looking both ways for oncoming traffic even when you have the right of way. Don't automatically assume other vehicles will adhere to the rules of the road.

2. Crashes While Merging

This type of crash occurs when two lanes of traffic merge together and one car sideswipes another. These collisions are generally caused by drivers attempting to merge, because they fail to check their blind spots as they are changing lanes.

You can avoid these crashes by always turning your head to make sure any blind spots are clear before merging. You should also avoid speeding in areas where other cars will attempt to merge. If you speed, other cars will have less time to see you when they are attempting to merge.

3. Rear-End Accidents

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that rear-end collisions are the most frequent type of collision that occurs on U.S. roads, making up 29 percent of all accidents. These crashes often occur because one car follows another too closely, known as tailgating.

Common situations where rear-end collisions occur are when a car has already stopped at the light and when the flow of traffic slows unexpectedly. Distracted drivers who are following too closely fail to notice the stopped or slowed traffic with enough time to react.

Prevent these crashes by keeping a safe distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you. Avoid distractions when driving, particularly in high-traffic areas where a lot of cars are close to each other.

If you are being tailgated, attempt to change lanes when possible to reduce potential danger.

4. Head-On Crashes

Head-on crashes are extremely dangerous and often fatal. They usually occur at high speeds that make it difficult for the seat belt, airbag and other safety features of the car to absorb the impact enough to protect passengers from severe injuries.

While head-on collisions usually involve other cars, they can also involve animals, trees or other fixed obstacles, such as road signs. These crashes often involve wrong-way drivers and those who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Avoid head-on collisions by obeying the rules of road and avoid any type of speeding or reckless driving. You should also avoid any type of driving distractions as they take your focus off the road and increase the potential for a crash.

5. Multi-Vehicle Collisions

Multi-vehicle collisions involve three or more cars and tend to occur on busy roads, freeways and highways. These accidents can be even more dangerous than head-on crashes, because cars may receive multiple impacts from multiple angles. Multiple impacts are difficult for any vehicle to absorb, no matter how large it is or how many safety features it has.

Multi-vehicle accidents can be difficult to avoid, as some victims are caught between two negligent drivers. Be alert and exercise caution on busy roads and highways where cars are traveling at high speeds. Keep an eye on the cars and drivers around you. If another driver seems distracted or is making dangerous maneuvers, try to move away from them to avoid being involved in an accident.

Contact Our Trusted Auto Accident Lawyers

The effects of a car accident injury can be severe and long-lasting, creating medical expenses and causing you to lose wages from missed time at work. These injuries can also cause physical pain and emotional suffering that makes it difficult to return to the way things were before the crash.

If you have reason to believe the accident is the result of another driver's negligence, you might be entitled to compensation for the damages you are experiencing. You should contact an attorney to discuss what happened so the attorney can determine if you can pursue compensation.

Our personal injury lawyers in Sacramento have recovered millions in compensation for victims of many types of car accidents. We are experienced in the legal process and know how to investigate a crash, build a case and negotiate fair compensation.

Proven Results

+

The Arnold Law Firm obtained a 10.2 million dollar verdict handed down in Modesto. Defense counsel was Kevin Cholakian of San Francisco. The defense rejected a 998 within the 1 million dollar policy limits three years ago. The highest defense offer was $350k...Learn More

+

The fatal collision between Plaintiffs' Jeep Liberty and defendant's Volvo truck left Ryan Eisenbrandt's surviving wife and parents with a judgment of 3.9 million dollars, but the defendant's insurance company refused to pay. This resulted in a second, intense legal battle between Plaintiffs' and Defendant's...Learn More

+

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County early in the morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his...Learn More

+

40 year old Earl Bode and his wife Christine walked into the Arnold Firm with three garbage bags of medical receipts and insurance documents handed to them by their prior attorney. Accused of causing an accident that was not Earl’s fault and with his own insurance company claiming he was uninsured, Mr. Bode was dazed and...Learn More

+

Randy Stevens opened his eyes and saw his wife standing over him in a hospital room. He had no idea what had happened. His last memory was of standing next to his truck trailer and watching as a Security Contractor Services forklift driver struggled to load an ungainly pallet of...

+

Last winter, a commercial truck and trailer made an abrupt wide turn into the path of a 24-year-old motorcyclist. The resulting collision sent Justin to the hospital with a collapsed lung, multiple fractured bones and a traumatic brain injury.

Justin's mother realized that her son needed legal help. While he was still in a coma...

Arnold Law Firm

Arnold Law Firm publishes this web site as a service to our clients and friends for general informational purposes only. These materials do not and are not intended to constitute legal advice. You should not act upon any such information without seeing professional counsel. These materials may be considered advertising in your state.

The information provided on the web is not privileged and does not create an attorney-client relationship with the Arnold Law Firm or any of the firm’s lawyers.

Arnold Law Firm has its principal office in Sacramento, California. Its attorneys are licensed to practice law in California. The firm does not intend to practice law in any jurisdictions where the firm is not licensed.